This week that notorious elf popped onto the Chamber of Commerce Professional’s group on Facebook. While it seems like Christmas is ages away, it’s really only two holidays around the corner or exactly two months away from the day I wrote this. <EEK> If you’re considering a Chamber Elf on the Shelf gimmick, here are a few ideas on how to incorporate him/her into your postings.
Chamber Elf on the Shelf Ideas
The chamber elf is a great engagement tool. People really enjoy it plus you can use it to bring more exposure (and hopefully, holiday revenue) to your members.
Where Is the Elf?
Circulate the elf among a new member business each day. Take a pic and upload it to social media. Ask people where they think the elf is. This gives local businesses a quick plug.
You can also hide the elf and ask people to go find them at a local business. This causes people to go out and explore. You could award chamber bucks to the person who found the elf.
The Fayette County Ohio Chamber of Commerce used a similar idea. Whitney Gentry shared, “I created an event on our FB page for it and did pay to boost the event. Every day the elf was at a different place – with a photo and a little poem giving hints as to where he might be. The first person to guess where he was that day was entered in a drawing. At end of 23 days, we drew one name from the daily winners to get a basket of goodies from everywhere the elf had been.”
Elf Member Spotlight
Like the idea above, move the elf to a different member business each day and post something on social media about where they are but don’t make it a mystery. Write the post like it was the elf talking about all the different things Santa can pick up at the member business for Christmas. This becomes an unofficial holiday guide from an elf.
Elf Zaniness
You’ve undoubtedly seen the pics on Pinterest of the Elf on the Shelf “dolls” getting into all sorts of precarious and hilarious situations. Create some of your own in the chamber office or around town. Post every day to Facebook. Your community will likely log on to see what your crazy chamber elf is up to.
Elf Puzzle
Carissa Cammack had this fun suggestion about teasing your audience and building the chamber elf program up. “Turn your picture into a puzzle that is revealed over several days.With teaser comments of the upcoming promotions the Elf brings. Make the puzzle interesting with background or something to throw people off a bit. It’s a good way to get buzz going before you actually start the program.”
Additional Quick Ideas for the Chamber Elf
- Add your chamber elf to your newsletter.
- Bring your chamber elf to a networking event. Put a name tag on them and watch their antics.
- Have someone dress up as an elf.
Have you done the chamber elf idea? If so, share your experiences here.
